Gastric sleeve surgery, also called sleeve gastrectomy, is a bariatric surgery procedure. This procedure removes a large part of the stomach, leaving a narrow “sleeve”. Making the stomach smaller helps to restrict calorie intake and reduce hunger signals. This surgery is clinically offered to help people with severe obesity achieve effective weight loss.
What is Gastric Sleeve?
Gastric sleeve surgery is a bariatric surgery operation to achieve weight loss. It works by reducing the size of the stomach. The word “gastrectomy” means the removal of all or part of the stomach. A gastric sleeve operation removes approximately 80% of the stomach, leaving a tubular “sleeve” that is similar in size and shape to a banana.
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
If you have had sleeve gastrectomy, you will start with liquid foods. Within a few weeks, you will switch to pureed foods, then to solid foods. Your meals will be much smaller and you may have to drink with meals because of the small stomach.
To lose weight and maintain weight, you will need to make significant lifestyle changes after bariatric surgery. For example, you will receive nutritional advice from a dietitian where you will need to change your eating habits and stay healthy.
Your meals will be much smaller than before. And you will probably take vitamins or other supplements for life.
You will also need to increase the physical exercise you do.